Panaji, March 22 (IANS) Goa's influential Roman Catholic church wants its followers to both pray and actively engage in the political process to elect parliamentarians who will work for the good of the country.
In a circular issued Saturday, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrao, exhorted Goa's 26 percent Catholics to start a prayer campaign to internally think and choose the best possible elected representative for the state.
The circular also calls active political participation as the "compelling need" of the times we live in.
"It should make us constantly aware of our duties and responsibilities as citizens who not only cast their vote, but also actively participate in the political life of our state. This is indeed a compelling need of the present times," the circular says.
The circular comes a few days after a social organization backed by the Church issued a stinging critique of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Gujarat chief minister, accusing both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of misgovernance.
The Church, during the last assembly elections, had a cosy relationship with the BJP, which eventually proved helpful for the saffron party helping it win an unprecedented simple majority in the 40-member Goa legislative assembly.
In Saturday's circular, the Church has reminded the Catholic faithful to fulfil "their solemn duty of exercising their franchise with a sense of responsibility to oneself and to our beloved nation, so that we may have a government which will uphold the principles of democracy, secularism, human rights, freedom of conscience...as enshrined in the Constitution of our nation".
Well-known Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan has given a big statement regarding one country,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the flight service from Hisar Airport by pressing the button
US President and tariff king Donald Trump has made another big bang. After imposing reciprocal ta
China has given a big blow to its close friend Pakistan. The United Nations Security Council (UNS
Pakistan, which dreamed of destroying India, has now become one of the 10 most indebted countries
Captain Clarke could have played WC opener, says Warne
Melbourne, Feb 13 (IANS) Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne Friday said Australian captain Micha
The house of the Prime Minister of Pakistan is also not safe. Audio clips of meetings taking plac
Ranchi 4.7 magnitude earthquake shook the land of Jamshedpur, people ran out of homes
Ranchi: Earth shook in the morning of Friday (June 5, 2020) in Jharkhand. Earthquake tremors were
Deepika Padukone loses the sequel of the 1000 crore earning film, the makers announced it.
After giving birth to her daughter, Dua, Deepika Padukone has been away from the acting world. Up
नई दिल्ली: प्रधान मंत्री नरेंद्र मोद
